Continental again top of the pack in Autozeitung winter tire test

23/09/2015

ContiWinterContact TS 850 again leads the way with top performances on snow and in the wet

Balanced performance at highest level ensures clear lead over 13 international competitors

In tests run by the German car magazine Autozeitung, the ContiWinterContact TS 850 defended its title and again finished best in test. In all, the experts from the Cologne-based magazine tested 14 tires in size 185/65 R 15, with an Opel Corsa 1.0 Turbo as the test vehicle. Among the tire line-up were models from European, Asian, and American brands, and they were put through their paces on wet, dry, and snow-covered roads in a total of 18 categories. “Invariably safe, fast, and balanced. The ContiWinterContact TS 850 is best in test,” the magazine concluded.

The outstanding performance of this premium winter tire from Continental was above all due to its exceptionally balanced characteristics. By way of illustration, the ContiWinterContact TS 850 not only led the field in the critical winter disciplines of driving in the wet and on snow, but also returned very good scores on dry roads. Commenting on its performance on snow, the magazine wrote: “The TS 850 delivers an impressive level of active safety. Best under braking; very direct steering response.” Following the tests in the wet, Autozeitung said: “In the wet, the Conti tire is in a class of its own: extremely high grip, excellent steering response, superb balance.”

The winter tire dimension tested by Autozeitung fits a whole range of subcompact and compact cars. The ContiWinterContact TS 850 is designed to deliver high levels of grip for safe driving on wintry roads. Both on dry asphalt and in the wet it offers a high degree of safety combined with remarkably low rolling resistance. The full range of this popular model from Continental has been slightly enlarged and is designed for rims from 14 to 17 inches. For larger wheels Continental recommends the WinterContact TS 850 P launched in 2014, which is also available in 20 SUV versions.

Also in the test was the low-cost winter model Barum Polaris 3 from the Continental brand portfolio. In a line-up dominated by brands from the premium and quality segments, the cheapest tire in the test scored a respectable seventh place, outperforming seven substantially more expensive models.